Localisation Of Function AO3

Question 1

✅ How does brain scanning support localisation of function?

Answer 1

Petersen et al. (1988) found that Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task and Broca’s area during a reading task. This suggests that different areas of the brain are responsible for different functions.

Question 2

✅How does Phineas Gage’s case support localisation?

Answer 2

After damage to his left frontal lobe, Gage’s personality changed drastically. This suggests that personality and emotional regulation are localised in the frontal lobe.

Question 3

✅ What does neurosurgical evidence reveal about localisation?

Answer 3

Dougherty et al. (2002) found that 1/3 of OCD patients showed improvement after a cingulotomy, indicating that symptoms of OCD may be linked to specific brain areas, supporting localisation of function.

Question 4

❌ What did Lashley’s research suggest about localisation?

Answer 4

Lashley removed parts of rats’ cortices and found no one area was essential for learning a maze, suggesting learning is holistic and not confined to specific brain regions.

Question 5

❌ What does brain recovery say about localisation?

Answer 5

The brain’s ability to reorganise and recover functions after damage suggests flexibility and supports a more holistic view, challenging the strict localisation model.